Who are our leaders???

There was a time when a military leader, or political leader, was known simply by recognition. They were cheered and praised. They were looked up to and followed. This is why they were leaders. How many Generals were known throughout the military and could carry a fight simply by their mere presence on the battlefield? Washington, Lee, Grant, Custer, Hood, Stuart, Patton, and more... What about Presidents who, while typically only portraits were available to know their face, would be known and praised by all who would see them? We live in a time in which everyone has access to just about any photo/video ever published. We can watch our leaders live, taped, in the same room, or halfway around the world. We can see and read EVERYTHING they say. And yet, they do not evoke the pride that those leaders of old did.

I was in the Army, met plenty of commanders who at best, were decent war fighters...but none of them ever made me feel that higher level of enthusiasm that I was looking for. I stood in the presence of 3 and 4 star generals, shook their hands, listened to them speak, and felt slightly hollow. I've listened to Presidents speak, really listened to their words, and heard nothing but the same ole crap that I've heard my whole life.

I've been touching on this a lot lately, but I felt it deserved an entry all it's own, because in the end, our leaders are what define us as a people. If they can't be trusted to inspire us, what good are they. The problem is, how do we find that one person who can rally a nation? Is it really trial and error? Must we be beaten down and broken before that person will come and rescue us? Or is it up to us as a people, to take control and rebuild our country from the ground up? This country was founded on the principle that the people can, given the opportunity, govern themselves and succeed. We have world class economists, who live here, yet we have more debt than every before in history. There is really something to be said about having too many hands in the cookie jar. I have never questioned the checks and balances put in place in our government. But lets look at this realistically.There are 100 members in the Senate, which is a good number. 435 members in the USHoR...which in my opinion is ridiculous...when could that many people ever really agree on anything that actually matters? Then, to top it off...even if these 500+ people can ever agree on anything...The President, 1 man, has the power to decide he doesn't agree and strike it down...Now add into this, all of the sub-committees that are created to make initial decisions before votes are even taken, do we even know who is running this country anymore? There is a mass of faceless, nameless, people who are telling us what to do and how to do it...

This is NOT the America that I want to live in. I long for a leader to come along, and take control. Tell congress what he wants, and not stop until it is finished. Tell our military leaders to get the job done, then, have the military leaders who have the wherewithal to accomplish their mission in a timely and efficient manner. You want to cut military spending? Stop fighting wars that can't be won against a faceless enemy who will never go away. Stop sending our troops to a barren wasteland, only to find out when they get there, that they aren't really needed. THE MIDDLE EAST HAS BEEN FIGHTING WARS WITH EACH OTHER FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS! Why do we think we are going to suddenly make them see the light? I am ashamed of what this country is becoming, and I am afraid of where it might end up if something doesn't change soon.